THE congregation of Latchford Baptist Church welcomed its new student minister to the church last week.

The parishioners had been without a minister for 17 months until student minister Lee Gilbert's arrival at the Loushers Lane church.

It joined forces with Northern Baptist College to provide the placement for him to train to become a fully ordained Minister.

Lee has moved to Latchford from Sheffield, where he spent a year studying at Northern Baptist College, with his wife Helen and will spend the next three years ministering to the congregation and the community.

The couple will be formally welcomed to the church during a special service on Sunday, September 10, at 10.45am.